Device for forming curved grooves in wood



April 8, 1958 E. HECHT DEVICE FOR FORMING CURVED caoovss IN wooo FiledApril 25, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 DUB DUUIJ 1 W ApriI'S 1958 E. M. HECHT IDEVICE FOR FORMING CURVED GROOVES m woos Filed April 25. 1955 aSheets-She et 2 April 8, 1958 E. M. HECHT DEVICE FOR FORMING CURVEDGROOVES IN WOOD Filed April 25. 1955:

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M. E M Z f 4 @H MN Nv am a 0'31} United States Patent U DEVICE FORFGRMING CURVED GROOVES IN WOOD Eugene M. Hecht, Garden Grove, Calif.Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,608

8 Claims. (Cl. 144-136) The present invention relates generally to thefield of woodworking equipment, and more particularly to an apparatusand method used in imparting a continuous sequence of decorative curvedparallel grooves of regular or irregular form to flat wooden surfacesand other fiat sheet stock adapted to be so treated.

A relatively recent woodworking development is that of carving aplurality of parallel grooves in the surface of inexpensive soft Woodswhich imparts an improved decorative appearance thereto due to its lackof welldefined grain structure inherently formed in the more expensivehard woods.

A major object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod of forming a plurality of par allel curved grooves in theexterior surfaces of fence stakes or the like, which imparts apleasingly rustic appearance thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carved wooden surfacewhich presents the appearance of being hand worked, in that theconfigurations formed therein may be carved in an irregular pattern.

Yet another object of the invention is to supply an apparatus and methodby means of which a plurality of parallel irregularly curved grooves maybe carved in separate rlat surfaces, with the individual patterns oneach surface being of such design that when assembled to present acontinuous surface area, the over-all design thereof is unusuallydecorative.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof,when taken in conjunction with the drawings illustrating that form, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device of the invention by means of whichparallel grooves of the desired curve or form may be formed in fiatsheet stock;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device taken on line3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of one of the rotatable cuttersutilized with the device;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cutter taken on line55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan View of the mechanism employed for reciprocationof the bed of the device;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the reciprocating mechanism shownin Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fragment of a wooden stake showing aplurality of parallel curved grooves formed therein by means of thepresent invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fragment of wooden stake in whichsequence of parallel irregularly curved grooves has been formed by theinvention.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of an alternateform of the invention embodying dual cutters which engage both the topand bottom surfaces of sheet stock as it passes therethrough; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a fragment of wooden material showinga sequence of parallel curved grooves formed in the upper and lowersurfaces thereof.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing for the generalarrangement of the invention, it will be seen to include a base B onwhich a table A is so movably mounted as to permit lateral reciprocationthereof upon actuation of a mechanism M shown in Figures 6 and 7. Avertically movable power-driven cutter C is positioned above table A andis maintained in substantially fixed lateral and longitudinal positionrelative thereto. A plurality of transversely disposed, longitudinallyspaced rollers R are supported on table A, on which rollers sheet stockD movably rest. The sheet stock D on one surface of which grooves are tobe formed is inserted into the rear of the apparatus and advancedforwardly over rollers R to be subjected to the action of cutter C.During cutting thereof the sheet stock is gripped between rollers R andone or both of two pressure rollers l3 and F.

The base B is rectangular, as shown in Figure l, and may be fabricatedfrom either wood or metal so long as the selected material possessessuflicient rigidity to remain in a substantially horizontal positionwhen subjected to a relatively heavy load. Base B is supported at aconvenient elevation above a ground or floor surface ltl by means offour legs 1?; disposed at the corners thereof. A first vertical bore 14is formed in the rear end portion 16 of base B which is in alignmentwith a vertical bore 18 formed in table A. Bores l4 and it, are movablyengaged by a bolt Ztl which is removably held in place therein by a nut22.

A second vertical bore 24 is formed in the forward end portion of tableA, and is pivotally engaged by a pin 25 that extends upwardly thereintofrom a transverse, slightly curved slot 28a formed in base B. Slot 28ais sufficiently long to permit lateral reciprocation of pin 26 when itis actuated by an arm 28, as will hereinafter be described in detail.The reciprocating motion imparted to pin 26 causes concurrent lateralreciprocation of table A relative to base B. Bolt 29 serves as a pivotpoint for table A and determines the radius of reciprocation of eachpoint on the surface of table A. it will be readily apparent that thegreater the longitudinal distance is between a point and bolt 20, thegreater the transverse distance will be as it reciprocates due to themovement imparted to table A by pin 26.

For the reciprocating motion of table A to effect the line of grooves Gcarved into the surface of wood D, it is essential that the wood be heldlaterally s" tionary on rollers R. To this end, two longitudinally exting arms 30 are provided that are pivotally connected on their rearwardmost ends by pins 32 to two parallel, laterally spat-ed channels 34which are atfixed by conventional to the upper surface of table A.Vertically extending bores 36 are formed in the forward portions ofarms; Boles 36 movably receive rigid rods 38, on the lower ends of whichchannels 3 are rigidly aifixed, as in Figure 2. The upper end portionsof rods are provided with threads 49 that are engaged by nuts 42.Helical springs 43 encircle rods 38 between the lower surfaces of nuts42 and the upper surfaces of arms 39. Two journal boxes 44 ofconventional design are mounted on the: upper surfaces of arms 30 bybelts or other means. A transverse shaft 46 is rotatably supported byjournal boxes 44, and the pressure roller E is mounted on shaft 46. Thecompression on springs 43 may be increased by screwing nuts 42downwardly, and in this manner the force exerted on roller B may becontrolled.

In addition to supporting rods 38 on the forward portions thereof,channels 34 also have a number of longitudinally spaced, transverselydisposed shafts 47 extending therebetween that form a part of rollers R.Thus, when see the sheet stock D is positioned on the forward portion oftable A, it is gripped between'rollers R and pressure roller E wherebylateral movement of the steel; relative to the table is prevented.

Stock D is also prevented from moving laterally on the rear portion oftable A by pressure roller P, which is mounted on a transverselydisposed shaft 50 that is rotat ably supported between two journal boxes52. These journal boxes are affixed to longitudinally disposed arms 54(Figure 2) which are pivotally connected at their forward end portionsto channels 34 by pins 56. Vertical bores 58 are formed in the rearportions of arms 54, which bores movably engage rods 60 that extendupwardly therei'nto from channels 34. Threads 62 are provided on theupper end portions of rods 60 which threads are engaged by nuts 64.Helical springs 66 encircle rods 60 between the lower face of nuts 64and the upper faces of arms 54. When nuts 64 are screwed downward,springs 66 are compressed and exert the desired force on pressure rollerF.

As best seen in Figure l, a pulley 68 is rigidly aflixed to one endportion of shaft 46, and two pulleys '70 and 72 are rigidly mounted onshaft 50. Pulleys 68 and 70 are in longitudinal alignment and an endlessbelt 74 extends therebetween. A second endless belt 76 extends frompulley 72 to a driving pulley '78 that is affixed to the innermost endof a drive shaft 80. Shaft 80 is a part of and rotated by an electricmotor 82 mounted on a suitable shelf 84 projecting outwardly from tableA. Actuation of motor 82 causes pressure rollers E and F to rotate in acounter clockwise direction to advance sheet stock D forwardly overrollers R.

The cutter C (Figures 1 to is a horizontal transversely positionedcylinder 85 having a number of axially spaced cutter members 86extending therethrough, which cutter members are removably mounted intransverse bores 88 formed in cylinder 85. Bores 88 and cutter members86 situated therein are alternately disposed 90 relative to one another.Screws 89 are preferably utilized to hold cutter members 88 in place incylinder 85. Cutter C is situated intermediate pressure rollers E and Fand parallel thereto. Shafts 90 project from the ends of cylinder 85 andare rotatably supported in journal boxes 92. Journal boxes 92 arerigidly aflixed to the lower faces of two identical side pieces 94, theforward ends of which are rigidly connected by a cross piece 96. Therear ends of side pieces 94 are pivotally connected by pins to two rigiduprights 98. The lower ends of uprights 98' are affixed to base B byconventional means.

Each side piece 94 is formed with two longitudinally spaced downwardlyextending bores in which two vertically adjustable rigid bars 100 aremounted. The upper end portions of bars 100 have threads 102 formed withtwo longitudinally spaced downwardly extending bores in which twovertically adjustable rigid bars 100 are mounted. The upper end portionsof bars 100 are provided with threads 102 which are engaged by nuts 104and 105. Nuts 104 and 105 grip side pieces 94 with which they areassociated to hold bars 100 at the desired downwardly extendingpositions relative thereto. Bars 100, as may best be seen in Figure 2,restrict downward movement of side pieces 94 relative to table A.

A second cross piece 96a extends between side pieces 94, rearwardly fromcutter C, and two rigid legs L and L depend down from cross pieces 96and 96a respectively, and rollers 106 and 106a are rotatably mounted onthe lower ends of these legs. The upper end portions of legs L and L arethreaded, and they may be vertically adjusted by means of nuts 108 and108a associated therewith. Rollers 106 and 106a engage the upper surfaceof sheet stock D as it is advanced forwardly on rollers R.

A pair of rigid uprights 109 are in vertical alignment with side pieces94. The lower end portions of these uprights are aflixed to, and projectupwardly from cross pieces 96 by bolts 110. The upper ends of uprights109 are rigidly joined by a transverse end piece 112. Two longitudinallydisposed side pieces 114 are also provided, the forward ends of whichare connected to uprights 109 by eye bolts 116, and the rear endsthereof are pivotally connected to uprights 98 by eye bolts 118. It willbe seen that the above-described structure provides a rigid, butvertically movable support for cutter C. Due to the pivotal constructionof this cutter support, the cutter C may be vertically adjusted to thethickness of sheet stock being worked.

A second electric motor 124 is mounted on a horizontal support thatprojects from base B. Motor 124 also drives a second pulley 136 fromwhich a belt 137 extends forwardly to a pulley 138 forming a part ofmechanism M shown in detail in Figures 2, 6 and 7. Pulley 138 is mountedon a shaft 139, which when actuated causes rotation of a worm 140 thatengages a horizontally disposed gear 142. Gear 142 is rigidly aflixed tothe lower end of a vertical shaft 144, on which shaft an off-centeredrigid disc 146 is affixed that serves as a cam. Disc 146 slidably androtatably engages the side wall of a circular opening 148 formed in afloating cam 149 which in turn engages an opening 149a formed in a plate150. Arm 28 extends from plate 150 to the pin 26 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7).It will be apparent that actuation of motor 124 causes rotation of disc146 and floating earn 149 to effect lateral reciprocation of table A.The table A reciprocates equal distances on each side of the centerlineof base B. This lateral reciprocal movement of table A in conjunctionwith the rotation of cutter C results in curved grooves of substantialuniformity being formed in the sheet'stock as it is fed through theinvention.

When it is desired to form grooves G of irregular curvature as shown inFigure 9 in sheet stock D, a first gear 150 is provided that is mountedon shaft 144 and meshes with a second gear 152 that is rigidly alfixedto a shaft 154; The shaft 154 drives a pulley 155 that is engaged by anendless belt 156 that extends to a pulley 158 rotatably mounted on shaft144.

The floating. cam 149 has an arm 160 extending outwardly therefrom. thatis disposed just above the upper surface of pulley158. Pulley 158 isprovided with a pin 162 that extends upwardly therefrom. This pin 162when pulley 158 is rotated, contacts arm 160 and causes the floating cam149 to rotate. It will be apparent that concurrent rotation of both cam146 and floating cam 149 imparts a complex irregular reciprocatingmovement to arm' 28' and one that is imparted to the motion of table A.By reciprocating the table A in this manner grooves G of an irregularconfiguration as shown in Figure 9 can be carved in the surface of sheetmaterial D as it advances forwardly on rollers R. When it is desired toform' curved grooves G of regular configuratiomthe belt 1561's simplyremoved from pulleys 155 and 158.

Upon occasion it may be desired to carve curved grooves G in both theupper and lower surfaces of sheetmaterial D. This is easily accomplishedby simply modifying the invention above described by forming atransverse opening in the table A and base B under the cutter C. Asecond cutter C' is rotatably mounted in this opening and supported byconventional bearings in a suitable frame 172. The cutter C is drivencon currently from the same power source used in driving cutter C.

The use and operation of the invention is extremely simple. The motors82 and 124 on the device are caused to rotate, with the cutter C beingrotated, and the table A and rollers R mounted thereon concurrentlyreciprocated due to the actuation of the mechanism M. In addition, therollers E and F are caused to rotate at a constant speed. The verticallyadjustable bars 100, shown in. Figure 2, are so adjusted that therollers E and F forcibly engage" the upper surface of the sheet materialD that is to have grooves G formed therein. The bars 100 limit themaximum downward movement of cutter C relative to the sheet material D,and grooves G of uniform depth are as a result carved therein. It willbe particularly noted in the operation of the invention that thematerial D is at all times rigidly gripped between the rollers R andpressure rollers E and F as it is moved forwardly through the device.Thus, lateral movement or slippage of the sheet material D relative tothe table A is avoided, and the reciprocatory movement imparted to thetable A by mechanism M is truly reflected in the curved configuration ofgrooves G.

A particularly important operational advantage of the invention is thatthe sheet material is advanced therethrough at a uniform rate by rollersE and F, and when so advancing can be subjected to regular reciprocatorymotion. In this manner it is a simple matter to make numerous carvedconfigurations of grooves G in sheets D, and the carved configurationsof grooves on one piece D substantially identical to the configurationson the balance of the sheets.

The manner by which the mechanism M is used to form grooves G of eitherregular or irregular configuration has been explained in detail and neednot be repeated.

Although the apparatus and method used in forming curved carved groovesin both the upper and lower surfaces of sheet material has been found toprovide the advantages and produce the results heretobefore described,it is to be understood that it is merely the presently preferredembodiment of the invention and that I do not mean to be limited to thedetails of construction herein shown and described, other than asdefined in the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for use in carving a plurality of parallel longitudinallyextending grooves of curved configuration in sheet material as saidsheet material is moved longitudinally through said device thatincludes: an elongate substantially rectangular horizontally disposedbase; an elongate substantially rectangular table positioned above saidbase and parallel thereto; means for transversely reciprocating saidtable relative to said base; two laterally spaced members mounted on theupper surface of said table; a plurality of rollers so rotatablysupported in fixed relationship to said members that said rollersmovably support said sheet material on said table; a plurality oftransversely disposed and longitudinally spaced driven rollers situatedabove said table-supported rollers; means for driving said drivenrollers at a predetermined rate of rotation; spring means supported onsaid table that at all times urge said driven rollers into contact withsaid material to advance said sheet material over said table; aplurality of laterally and circumferentially spaced blades ofsubstantially equal length which are disposed in fixed vertical cuttingrelationship relative to said material as same is advanced over saidtable; a rigid elongate member on which said blades are rigidly mounted,which member is positioned above said table in transverse relationshipthereto; and means for driving said member to cause said blades to outsaid grooves of said curved configuration in said material duringadvancement thereof over said table.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which two laterally spaced parallelarms are provided that are longitudinally disposed relative to said baseand situated above said table, between which arms said elongate memberis rotatably supported, and two uprights are affixed to the rearward endof said base to which said arms are pivotally connected.

3. A. device as defined in claim 2 in which said arms are provided witha plurality of transverse, longitudinally spaced cross pieces on which aplurality of vertically adjustable members are mounted, which membershave a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the lower end portionsthereof, with said rollers movably engaging the upper surface of saidsheet material as it is advanced over said table to control the depth ofsaid grooves cut in said sheet material by said blades.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said arms are provided withupwardly extending first members pivoted thereto, said uprights areprovided with upwardly extending first members pivoted thereto, saiduprights are provided with forwardly extending second members pivotedthereto, and said first and second members are pivotally connected attheir junctions to provide two vertically disposed parallelogram-shapedframes that maintain said elongate member in the position to which it isadjusted.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which said means that reciprocatesaid table is a pin affixed thereto that is pivotally engaged by a rigidarm and a bearing is mounted on said arm, with a cam being provided thatis driven by said power means and engages said bearing.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 in which an 01fcentered annular plateis provided that can be rotated to reciprocate said table, which plateis rotatably engaged by said cam.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 in which said floating cam is providedwith means to rotate same by first drive means for said power means, andsaid annular plate is rotated by second drive means independent fromsaid first drive means, which first and second drive means is actuatedby said power means.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 in which a member is provided thatextends outwardly from said floating cam; an upwardly extending pin thatcontacts said member; a rotatably supported pulley on which said pin ismounted; an endless belt that drives said pulley; a verticallypositioned shaft on which said plate is disposed and on which saidpulley is freely rotatable; and power transmission means for drivingsaid belt and shaft, which transmission means is interposed between saidbelt and shaft and said power means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS649,860 Oppert May 15, 1900 2,137,505 Osgood Nov. 22, 1938 2,602,477Knift July 8, 1952

